Slow Academic Day For 16 Professors On The Prairies

I can't get worked up about this scholarship program story created by retired general Randy Hillier. I suppose "why soldiers and not policemen or firemen" argument can be made but it's still a nice initiative. Even if I were against it, would it merit making a stink about it? Canadians already enjoy low tuition fees to begin with so I guess allowing for children of dead soldiers to get an education "for free" isn't so fanciful. I put "for free" in quotations because, in a way, it isn't free. Their families paid the ultimate price: Death for the country. It's the least we can do given how treatment of veterans isn't always what it should be.

We do it for First Nations too. The private college I attended back in the early 1990s cost $3500 a month  a pretty penny for us white folks but Mohawks didn't have to pay the tuition. Something about colonial guilt and being on their lands I'm sure. It's all good or else I would never have met a Native with the nickname "Shooter." So called because he had a wicked slap shot.

However, I can get all hot and bothered about the rhetoric and argument used by 16 professors at the University of Regina regarding the program.

"The letter called the scholarship program "a glorification of Canadian imperialism in Afghanistan and elsewhere." 

That's kinda laying it on a tad thick no? Glorification of Canadian imperialism? Canada? Shit, we barely maintain a military, let alone seek empire. In any event, Canada is part of a NATO force and the United Nations cleared the invasion of Afghanistan. I'm not suggesting that makes it good or right, but it should quell somewhat the notion of we went in as Imperialists. I still giggle with that one. Didn't Canada refuse a group of Caribbean islands (including Turk & Caicos) back in the 1980s for fear of being labeled "imperialist?" And these countries asked to join and we still said no!

And:

"In our view, support for Project Hero represents a dangerous cultural turn. It associates heroism with the act of military intervention ... In signing on to Project Hero, the university is implicated in the disturbing construction of the war in Afghanistan by Western military and state elites as the 'good war' of our epoch. We insist that our university not be connected with the increasing militarization of Canadian society and politics," the letter reads. 

These people are teaching our future intellectuals. I hardly see the "militarization" of Canadian society. Canada sees itself as a peacekeeping nation and even at that we don't really measure up to other peacekeeping nations. So I don't know where they're headed with that. Maybe because Harper is in power they see all sorts of monsters under the bed. Again, I think most rational and intelligent people can separate being against the war with Canada not being a budding Spartan titan. They can also see the good in the plan.

So they called it 'Project Hero.' Big deal. It might be cheesy but I think we should just roll with it.

And:

 
"We felt that the name implied that all of those who have died in military service are heroes. And we think that heroism is a different kind of thing and we do not want some students to be seen as more worthy than others."

To some, they are. But not because they fight and kill - although that it's not so bad to wipe out a few of bad guys - but because they engage in humanitarian works like disarming mines, building infrastructure and schools. I would love to know what they mean by "different kind of thing." Stalin perhaps? Anti-liberty deans who "limit" free speech?

Doesn't the language bore you?

The mission in Afghanistan is problematic on many levels, but it's hardly an "imperialist" mission. Canadians may have a list of reasons why they don't want to be there, but I hardly think it's perceived it to be imperial.

It hasn't been a good week for Canadian Universities. One barely adheres to freedom of speech and the other pays professors who lack any common sense. It should be noted, however, the University of Ottawa ended up doing the wrong thing and UofR stuck to its guns and convictions and ignored the protest. And not so long ago, another professor suggested changing the lyrics of 'O,Canada' to make it more modern and gender neutral despite misinterpreting the original intent of the wording.

Have a decaf tea and a scone and chill out you hippies.

Just kidding. Relax.